Wheel.



R. R. SANDHAM.

WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 18,1907.

Patented Feb.8,1910.-

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WHEEL. APPLICATION FILED JULY 18, 1907.

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wane a is. it hits RALPH R. SANDHAM, 0F HARLAN, IOW'A, ASSIGNOl-t, MESNEASSIGhIMElFlTEi, ONE-HALF TO JOSIAH D. SANDHAIVE, OF flMAHi-i,NEBEAEJKA.

VI-IEEL.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH R. SANDHAM,

a citizen of the United States of America,

The invention consists in the construction of the tire and in thepeculiar arrangement and combination of its various parts, as more fullyhereinafter set forth.

In the drawings,Figure 1 is a view In side elevation ofa portion of avehicle wheel, with my improved tire, applied thereto; Fig. 2 is avertical central section through the wheel and tire; Fig. 3 is a similarview, showing the parts of the tire when under compression; and Fig. 4is an enlarged sectional view, illustrating the means employed forpreventing independent rotation of the parts.

In the drawings thus briefly described, A

, designates the wheel proper, consisting of united a hub B, spokes C,and a rim D, the" parts being united into a rigid structure. The rim isformed in complementary sections, united at their meeting ends byfish-plates E, and each section is provided with a series of socketsections F adapted to receive the spoke ends, and complementary andsemicircular flanges G extending inwardly from the inner face of therim, as plainly shown on the drawings.

H represents the tread member of the tire, composed of complementarycircular side sections J and K and a tread section proper L, the partsbeing so proportioned and as to form a housing inclosing the rim andextending therebeyond for a pur pose hereinafter set forth. Each sidesection of, the tread is formed of two complementary parts, united inany suitable manner, as by fish-plates a, and each carries adependingsocket section, as M, the socket portions when the parts areassembled being continuous and adapted to receive the flanges G on therim, the flanges in turn Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 18, 1907. Serial No. 3%,330.

mits the full radial movement at being adapted to slide easily withinthe sockets, permitting the tree member to move radially in relation tothe wheel proper. The tread section L is made preferably of metal, andis formed in two com' plementary sections which are united at theirmeeting ends by fish-plates o, and are detachably connected to the sidesections J and K by a series of fastening devices, as screws d.

Arranged within the housing formed by the tread and rim sections of theWheel is a yielding abutment O in the form of a pneumatic tube sofashioned that when interposed between the tread and rim, as shown inthe drawings, it will be held normally by the parts-when the tire is notunder compression-in elliptical form.

The tube if desired may be provided with an outer covering or jacket, asfor instance leather, designated by the reference-letter P.

From the construction as set forth, it will be seen that the tire iscapable of radial movement relative to the wheel, and that owing to thepeculiar form of the tubing used in the housing the yielding abutment isat all times in contact with the tire parts, as when the tube iscompressed at one point of its circumference which is reinforced it iscapable of elongation radially ata' diametrically-opposite point. Thus,the tread is prevented from leaving the abutment, and the consequentshock and from. again contacting therewith is obviated.

For the purpose of preventing independent rotation of the tire parts,and. at the same time permitting the relative radial movement desired, Ipreferably form a circular opening, as Q, in one of the flanges G of therim, and extend therethrough and through the adjoining portion of thesocket section M of the tread section a pin R. This permits but a slightrelative rotation between the parts, and at the same time per-- anyportion of the circumference of the tire.

From the construction described, it will be noticed that the road shocksreceived at any point in the circumference of the tire are transmittedto a point independently of the wheel proper, so that the wheelstructure and the vehicle supported thereby is freed from all jolts orshocks to an even greater extent than could be obtained by the use ofthe ordinary diametrically-opposite pneumatic tire. 'Further, anyjolting resulting from partsthemselves is prevented by reason of,

the striking between the tire the radial elongation of the abutment, andthe resulting constant contact of the tubin with the tread and rimsections; and stil further, the tubin itself is entirely inclosed andthus protec from puncture, rim cuts, and the like.

To permit the read radial movement of the tread, I preferab y fill thesocket sections M of the side members with an oil or grease ofsuflicient density to prevent its running out of the socket, This servesto lubricate the engaging parts and permits the sliding movement,

What I claim as my invention is,-

1. In a wheel, the combination with a rim carrying laterally spacedinwardly extending members, of a tread section comprising complementarysides and a tread proper s aced from the rim, the sides being providedeach with an annular opening to re ceive the corresponding rim member,and a pneumatic tube interposed between the rim and tread.

2. In a wheel, the combination with a. rim carrying laterally spacedinwardly extend- -termediate of the flanges,

ing annular flanges, of a hollow tread section comprising complementarysectional sides and a detachable tread portion spaced from the rim,annular socket sections carriedby the sides with which the rim flangesengage, means for preventingindependent rotary movement between the rimand tread section, and a pneumatic tube housed within the tread section.

3. In a wheel, the combination with a rim carrying spaced inwardlyprojecting annular flanges and spoke-receiving sockets inof a hollowtread section composed of sectional side members and a detachable treadportion, annular socket sections carried by the sides within which therim flan es extend, means for preventing indepen ent rotary movementbetween the rim and tread section, and a pneumatic tube housed withinthe tread sec-.

tion.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence: of two witnesses.

RALPH R. SANDHAM.

Witnesses i A. L. FOSTER, F. R. LINTLEMAN.

